NBA's Young Talent On Display

MIKE BRESNAHANLos Angeles Times

The NBA's old-timers are yielding to youth, and that's OK, at least on All-Star weekend.

NEW YORK — Kobe Bryant won't play in Sunday's All-Star game, his season already over because of a shoulder injury. Dwyane Wade will also skip it because of a sore hamstring. Carmelo Anthony is here, a reasonable expectation because the New York Knicks are his team, but he can't shake the lurking possibility of season-ending surgery on a troublesome knee.

They're the ones scoring 37 points in a quarter (Thompson), resurrecting basketball in Washington (Wall) and quickly earning the title of the NBA's third-best player (Davis). They create outrage if they're left off the All-Star team (Lillard, initially), create conversation by arguably becoming the game's best center (Cousins) and then create, period, with LeBron James on a game-to-game basis in Cleveland (Irving).

What's an old-timer to do?

Sit back and enjoy the show unfolding around him. It's OK to yield to youth. At least on All-Star weekend.

"It's wonderful to see the talent that's coming about and how they're really taking over this league," said Tim Duncan, two months from turning 39 but selected as a reserve for his 15th All-Star game. Even he admitted he was surprised.

Wade's hamstring didn't stop him from attending All-Star weekend, though it was more like a family vacation. He brought his 13-year-old son, who insisted on seeing players that are, um, a little younger than his 33-year-old dad.

"It's still a big deal for our kids to see all their favorite players," Wade said. "The 'NBA 2K' in person. That's exactly what it is."

Full disclosure: One of the top young guns won't suit up Sunday because he's injured too. Davis is out because of a sore shoulder from a hard fall after a dunk.

But the ones that will play speak reverently about their alleged elders. 1998 is eons ago to them. Michael Jordan is mentioned in semi-hushed tones.

"I remember watching the All-Star game when Kobe, this was his first one, and he was playing against MJ. MJ won the MVP," Irving said. "Now that I'm actually going to get a chance to step on the floor and play with tremendous talents in this league, it's truly a blessing."

Then again, maybe they all don't speak deferentially.

"My goal? I would love to break Magic's all-time assist record," said Wall, who would need 23 on Sunday to top Johnson's 1984 mark. "But if not, just have fun out there and try to win the game."

Somewhere in the middle of this is James.

He turned 30 two months ago but remained the game's top player despite the challenges from below.

He keeps piling up trite accolades (youngest ever to 24,000 points, one of only two players to get 24,000 with 6,000 rebounds and 6,000 assists, etc.). But he's also hitting the important marks too — well-documented championship runs the last two years.

It's his world, and the kids still live in it. As well as the old players.

But there will be challenges for James. Quite a few for a gradually improving Cleveland team that was only fifth in the Eastern Conference at the All-Star break.

If the Cavaliers are lucky enough to get to the NBA Finals, they might run into the Golden State Warriors, whose backcourt of Thompson (age 25) and Stephen Curry (26) were selected to the All-Star game.

"It's a great moment in my career. And hopefully I'll be back again," Thompson said.

Then he added the musings of a 20-something.

"Hopefully put on a show for the fans, go back and enjoy some California sunshine before the break is over."

Hall of Fame Finalists

NEW YORK — Kentucky coach John Calipari, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and four-time Defensive Player of the Year Dikembe Mutombo are among the finalists for this year's Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class.

Former NBA stars Tim Hardaway, Spencer Haywood and Jo Jo White also were chosen as finalists Saturday. They join former WNBA star Lisa Leslie, longtime referee Dick Bavetta, and two-time NBA Coach of the Year Bill Fitch among the class of 2015 hopefuls.

Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan and high school coaches Robert Hughes and Lita Andrews rounded out the 12 finalists.

The class will be announced at an April 6 press conference before the NCAA championship game, when Calipari's team might be playing. The top-ranked Wildcats were 24-0 entering their game Saturday against South Carolina and hoping to give him a second national title.

Johnson was a three-time All-Star point guard with the Phoenix Suns who led the charge to keep his hometown team in Sacramento after moving into politics.

Haywood and White were teammates with the 1968 U.S. Olympic team that won a gold medal. Haywood went on to star in the ABA before winning an NBA championship with the Lakers, while White was a seven-time All-Star who won two championships with Boston.

Fitch led the Celtics to the 1981 championship and won more than 900 games as an NBA coach. Ryan's success has come at the college level, winning four Division III championships before finding success with the Badgers.

Leslie was a three-time WNBA MVP and former national player of the year playing at Southern California.

Enshrinement is set for Sept. 10-11 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Silver: Scheduling 'Improvements'

NEW YORK — Commissioner Adam Silver is determined to make a schedule that keeps NBA players fresh, and he is willing to discuss starting the season earlier or ending later.

Change could come as early as next season, with fewer stretches of games on back-to-back nights, or four in five nights. He says Saturday during his All-Star press conference that he is concerned with the wear and tear on players.

Silver says he believes the league can make "dramatic" improvements in those areas.

Just beginning his second year in charge, Silver says his priority is improving the game, where much of his early successes were on off-the-court areas.

But business couldn't completely be ignored, with Silver acknowledging the league and players association are early in discussions about how to handle to the influx of revenue coming when the new TV deals kick in in 2016.

NEW YORK — Chris Bosh, Dominique Wilkins and Swin Cash won their third straight shooting stars competition to kick off All-Star Saturday night at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

Wilkins, the 55-year-old former Atlanta Hawks star, hit a half-court shot after 57.6 seconds in the final round to seal Team Bosh's three-peat. They bested Russell Westbrook, Anfernee Hardaway and Tamika Catchings in the final round, when Team Westbrook ran out of time after 90 seconds.

Stephen Curry and his father, former NBA player Dell Curry, and WNBA star Sue Bird were knocked out in the opening round along with Paul Millsap, Scottie Pippen and Elena Delle Donne.

Curry will get another chance for a victory when he headlines the 3-point contest later Saturday night. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Oladipo, Mason Plumlee and Zach LaVine were competing in the slam-dunk contest.